Thanks for stopping by! This is the official blog for the Rona Shively Stories Mystery Series. Check in for details on upcoming Rona Shively Stories and other events! Watch Rona's transformation as she tackles life head on, now armed with newly found faith and the knowledge that she is not actually in control of anything. Finally, it is all starting to make sense.

Upcoming Events

***All Rona Shively books are now available on Kindle! See below for details!***Buy your copy of any Rona Shively Story and help someone today. All proceeds go to Higher Ground Ministries to empower women! Get your copy today at Amazon.com!***Help women reach Higher Ground! http://www.highergroundministries.wordpress.com.

Monday, July 23, 2007

I think the hardest thing for me to do is to slow myself down and enjoy life. Over the past few months, I've been trying to back off from taking on too many projects and now that I've phased some things out, I'm going a little nuts. I get to a point where I just need to have something going on. While most people seem to enjoy the sounds of silence, it makes me feel as though I should be in a rubber room somewhere.

The point of my slowing down was to allow me to enjoy the time I have with my little girl before she has to go to school. I have a couple of years, but I wanted to make the most of the time. When I had my little girl, I was a very different person. I wanted to get to the top of that career ladder and teeter there on the brink of insanity for the next thirty years. Now, I find it hard to even prop the ladder against a wall. It's funny how our priorities change once we become parents. I know I never would have dreamed that I would leave a prestigious position with a well-known organization to stay at home and be a mom. But for me, the mommy gene and the corporate career gene simply aren't able to coexist.

So, I sit here every morning making my rounds on the internet. Before she wakes up, I check e-mail, update websites, update blogs, look for interesting stuff, check the obituaries to make sure I haven't passed on, and then I think about all of the things I used to get done before 9 a.m. when I had a "real job." I can't believe I ever put myself through that. Now, when my daughter wakes up, I'm here and she doesn't feel pressured by my hurrying to get her to a babysitter. It has made a significant change in her. One that is worth at least giving up a relatively large salary. She's happy, she's having fun and I think she feels more secure.

I'm approaching my thirty-fifth birthday and it has become clear to me over the last few years that life is much more than how much you can bring home on your paycheck. If you can't get something more from the work you are doing than simply cash rewards, then it probably isn't even worth doing. I feel more fulfilled at this point in my life than I ever did before. Although it scares me to slow down, I am comforted by the knowledge that it has made a very positive impact on my daughter. She sees that she is more important to me than anything else and that it is possible to choose a path that fits what is in your heart.

Just an FYI-Stonegarden.net publishing is offering $5 for each book review written and posted at their website. If you like reading and you like writing reviews, check out the rules for this promotion at http://www.stonegarden.net/forums/index.php?topic=457.0 You'll have to register for the forum to get in and read the rules. When you get there, go to the topic called Book Reviewers!

I got a really nice review on Amazon from the guy who runs the site. It's worth your time to check it out.

Where I'll Be...

After a short break in the summer, I'll be at the following locations:

8/11/09 Allen Park Public Library, Allen Park, MI 6:30 p.m.

Looking for something entertaining for your library or bookstore patrons? Looking for a fun way to spend a couple of hours? Do you love mysteries? Then you need to schedule a Tea & Mystery event for your library or bookstore! The fee is minimal and the presentation is fun and informative! Attendees will be given the chance to win great prizes and share their thoughts about the mystery genre and their favorite mystery writers!

“In The Wash is like a 1930’s film noir detective story that had a modern, edgy twist and a female lead.”

Janet Davies, Once Upon a Romance Reviews

***

“Under Lock and Key is an enjoyable, fun book! Rona Shively is a delightful character. I loved her off-beat, quirky personality and her outstanding sense of humor.”

Connie Harris, MyShelf.com

***

“Talented author Rebecca Benston shows the reader just how complicated life can get suddenly and how people you thought you knew, aren't who you thought they were.”

Anne K. Edwards, Mysteryfiction.net

Contests!

No contests at this time. Check back later!

Rebecca Benston

Writer

My name is Rebecca Benston. I am the author of a mystery series, The Rona Shively Stories. The series currently includes six books: In the Wash, Under Lock and Key,Keeping the Faith, This Side Up, Now You See Me and Thy Will Be Done.

In addition to mystery, I have also written romance and some very mild horror. I'm focusing my efforts more on the spiritual side of life these days and hoping to infuse some of that into the Rona Shively series. I think it will be interesting to see what a little bit of faith can do for a wretch like Rona. If you're looking for a thinking woman's character, you've come to the right place!

I'm the mother of a beautiful little girl named Mya who inspires me on a daily, if not hourly basis. We live in Springfield, OH. When I'm not writing, I am usually working on women's empowerment projects and other things related to helping others become their best version of themselves. I enjoy helping others overcome the obstacles they face.

I'm an audiobook junkie and my favorite fiction authors are Lisa Scottoline, Janet Evanovich, and Sarah Strohmeyer. I'm inspired by them to write fiction that shows women as fiesty, fearless and fabulous individuals who can handle anything life throws their way. I also love to read anything inspirational and some of my favorite non-fiction authors include Beth Moore, Elizabeth Gilbert, Lisa Nichols, Joyce Meyer, Francis Chan and many others.

I have alot of ideas about how things are supposed to work and sometimes, I get a little opinionated here on the blog. What it all boils down to is that I want people to feel better for having read the things I write. I hope you will enjoy my offbeat sense of humor and my unique perspective on life, love, hope, and happiness.

My favorites 2011...

Authors-Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer

Music Group-TobyMac

Magazine-All You, Charisma

Movie-Diary of a Wimpy Kid-Roderick Rules, Kung Fu Panda 2

Television Show-Jentezen Franklin, Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer